Fantasy Surfer: The Brazilian Bacchanalia

Coming in hot on the heels of a high performance event at Trestles, the 2025 WSL World Championship Tour now sets its sights on South America - specifically the beachbreaks of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  Long known as the destination on the schedule most likely to resemble Joe & Jane Average Surfer's home break, this event is the most likely to showcase the world's best in less than perfect surf.  And while a "Dream Tour" is many a viewer's preferred option, I argue that this location - more than any other on the schedule - showcases just how great the talent is on the world tour.

Expect the majority of the waves surfed at this event to be punchy lines with a great potential for some hollow sections.  But if there's any sort of strong swell on offer, it can quickly resemble the dumping barrels that we saw earlier in the year at Supertubos in Portugal.  Massive crowds are likely to flock to the beach no matter the weather, and Brazil is well known for celebrating and giving the advantage to anyone who is a home-country hero.

With that being said, Filipe Toledo, Italo Ferreira, Yago Dora, and event wildcard Tatiana Weston-Webb will absorb the majority of the cheers and likely dominate the event.  But the Brazilian surf fan is nuanced and can easily recognize talent that you should scoop up for your Fantasy Surfer teams in addition to the previously mentioned locals.

Caitlin Simmer has had this event on lockdown for the past two years.  Others to consider are Jack Robinson, Ethan Ewing, the Colapinto brothers, and anyone else that you believe can dominate in smaller, challenging conditions.  With a shot, one-week window to run the event, expect it to run in just about every possible conditions.